{"title":"Eamonn Sweeney","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEamonn Sweeney\u003c\/strong\u003e writes compelling stories that explore the passion and drama of sports. His works offer a deep dive into the complexities and emotional intensity that define athletic competition, blending rich characterisation with insightful commentary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect narratives that capture both the exhilaration of the game and the personal struggles behind the scenes. Whether on or off the field, Sweeney’s stories resonate with anyone fascinated by the world of sport and its wider impact.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-last-ditch-by-eamonn-sweeney-9781399734714","title":"The Last Ditch","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A BOOK THAT ENTERS THE GAA CANON'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eTHE 42\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A MAGICAL-MYSTERY TOUR OF A GAA SEASON'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eIRISH INDEPENDENT\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A cracking read ... a championship season as redemption song.'\u003c\/strong\u003e MICHAEL CLIFFORD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"All the tension of a tight knockout encounter ... one of the books of the year.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e MIKE McCORMACK\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTwenty-one years on from his bestselling \u003cem\u003eThe Road to Croker\u003c\/em\u003e, sportswriter Eamonn Sweeney set out to follow the All-Ireland championships around the country once again. But there was one problem. To make the journey, he would have to confront a secret fear that had quietly shaped his life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn the pitch, \u003cem\u003eThe Last Ditch\u003c\/em\u003e captures the drama of a hurling season for the ages and a football championship that tested even the most loyal supporters - a landscape of unlikely triumphs, renaissances, shocks, cliffhangers and heartbreak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOff the field, it becomes something deeper: one man's reckoning with middle age, masculinity and a crippling travel phobia that for two decades had dictated the span of his quiet, rural existence. As he moves through towns, terraces and conversations, Sweeney discovers not just the unifying spirit of the GAA, but the possibility of reclaiming a life he thought he'd lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBoth an unforgettable sporting odyssey and a profoundly human memoir, \u003cem\u003eThe Last Ditch\u003c\/em\u003e is a testament to how in Ireland, when all else fails, the GAA brings us home again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47734535815404,"sku":"9781399734714","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399734714-the-last-ditch.jpg?v=1781222725"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/eamonn-sweeney.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}